The Victorian Government has announced a new legal services panel that aims to provide greater opportunities for women barristers. The panel, which will be appointed through an open tender by the Department of Justice and Community Safety, will allow government departments and agencies to purchase legal advice and representation from private law firms at competitive rates.
The panel will cover a variety of areas of law, including administrative, employment, property, contracts, general commercial, and planning and environmental law. As part of the panel’s requirements, firms will be expected to provide an increased portion of barrister briefs and counsel fees to female barristers, with a new target of at least 50% of briefs going to women barristers. Additionally, firms will be required to report to the government on diversity policy and practices, as well as gender pay gaps.
The Andrews Labor Government has also committed to recognising and encouraging the provision of pro bono services for vulnerable Victorians. Community legal centres will benefit from these arrangements, which will include requiring large firms to contribute legal staff to these centres. Current legal services panel firms have delivered more than $260 million in pro bono legal services since March 2016.
Victorian law firms, including large, small, medium and regional firms, interested in providing legal services to the Government are invited to submit a tender via tenders.vic.gov.au, with tenders closing at 2.00pm on 16 February 2023.
In a statement, Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said, “The appointment of a new Legal Services Panel will produce high-quality, cost-competitive and consistent legal services. It will ensure that more briefs go to women barristers, boosting equal opportunity.” She added, “The panel’s new pro bono obligations will deliver services to Victorians experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage, helping those who need it most.
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